The Innovation Studies Lab is dedicated to investigating the processes and outcomes of innovation. In particular, we conduct applied research with and program evaluation for team science-based research initiatives. Our projects typically focus on large, cross-disciplinary, multi-institutional research centers that involve collaborators from academia, industry, government, and other stakeholder groups all working together to address grand challenges of scientific and societal importance. On this website, you will find information about lab members, our funded projects, and publications.

This page is currently under construction. If you have any questions about the lab, please reach out to Dr. McGowen at lcmcgowe@ncsu.edu

Projects

People

Dr. Lindsey McGowen is a Senior Research Scientist in the Department of Psychology at North Carolina State University where she leads the Innovation Studies Lab. Dr. McGowen’s research focuses on program evaluation for cooperative science and technology programs, particularly the outcomes and impacts of cooperative research centers involving collaboration between academia and the private sector. Dr. McGowen received her B.S. in Psychology & Communication from Lewis & Clark College. She received her Ph.D. and M.S. degrees in Psychology in the Public Interest from North Carolina State University.

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Monipel Ansong Babb is a Ph.D. student in Agricultural and Extension Education at North Carolina State University. Her research focuses on evaluating food safety risks and mitigation steps in the low-moisture food supply chain, particularly concerning trade between developing countries and the United States.

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Micaha Dean Hughes is a doctoral student in the Educational Psychology program in the Teacher Education and Learning Sciences department at North Carolina State University. Her research is primarily focused on community-engaged approaches to university research-practice partnerships and the influence of relationality on student sense of mattering, motivation, and identity.
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Lindsey Payne is currently a doctoral candidate at NC State University, specializing in Teacher Education and Learning Sciences with a focus on social studies. Working under the mentorship of Dr. Meghan Manfra, her primary research focus is examining how historical trajectories influence learning outcomes in social studies education.
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Elliot Rezek is a master’s student in the computer science program in the data science track. His specialties include social network analysis, data visualization, and automation. He graduates in May 2026.

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